SA's health laboratory service
26 November 2003
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has officially launched the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), a non-profit institution comprising previously independent research organisations, university pathology departments and public sector laboratories throughout South Africa.
The NHLS comprises the former South African Institute for Medical Research, the National Institute of Virology, the National Centre for Occupational Health, and the country's various university pathology laboratories.
The institution, which has an estimated annual turnover of R1-billion, was established in October 2001 and has 250 laboratories employing about 3 700 people across the country. These exclude 90 laboratories in KwaZulu-Natal that are expected to be amalgamated into the institution over the next two years.
The NHLS was given legislative effect in 2002 when Parliament passed the National Health Laboratory Services Act.
"I am proud of both the
physical and human resources and capabilities of the NHLS because it is at the forefront of providing accessible, affordable and quality health services to all South Africans and the SADC region," Tshabalala-Msimang said.
NHLS chief executive John Robertson said the institution was the only facility of its kind in Africa.
"We are a major contributor to health care management on the continent for key world bodies such as the United Nations World Health Organisation. We provide a national service with a consistent standard of pathology service.
"This allows us to deliver services to the South African communities that do not have such facilities and benefits," he said.
Robertson said the NHLS will provide all the pathology, research and data services surrounding the roll-out of antiretroviral drugs following Cabinet's decision to embark on a programme of comprehensive care, treatment and management of people living with HIV and Aids.
"This will account for
about 50 percent of antiretroviral rollout worldwide, and we will provide a blueprint for future Third World programmes to check the pandemic," he said.
Services provided by the institution include strengthening general chemistry, microbiology and hematology testing, which is necessary for the holistic monitoring of patients.
Source: BuaNews
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